After lunch at Nihon Yakiniku Hasegawa Ginza, we strolled towards Shimbashi Station to catch the metro to Shibuya. The portion sizes of our kaiseki meal at the yakiniku restaurant were unfortunately on the smaller side, so we still had quite a bit of room left in our stomachs. Perfect timing then, when we spotted Taiyaki Kanda Daruma Ginza Branch (銀座店) near the entrance of Ginza Corridor Street. A quick peek through the glass window revealed staff live-making taiyaki on the spot. Fresh and hot? Sold. We grabbed one to share.
What Makes Taiyaki Kanda Daruma Different?
Their taiyaki isn’t your typical fish-shaped snack. It comes with “wings”—that extra crispy crust hanging off the sides. Apparently, they pioneered and trademarked this iconic “Hanetsuki” taiyaki. Pretty cool.
Where to Find Taiyaki Kanda Daruma Outlets
- Kanda Ogawacho Main Store (Tokyo)
- Ginza Store (Tokyo — near Shimbashi Station)
- Tsukiji Store (Tokyo)
- Akihabara Store (Tokyo)
- Omiya Cocoon City Store (Saitama)
- Occasional pop-ups at spots like Pasar Hasuda service area (Saitama)
Menu
The Taste Test: Custard Cream Taiyaki (¥300)
Ours arrived as a rectangular slab—no cutesy fish shape here.
First impression? The exterior looked a touch too pale. I expected the thin crust to be crunchy and crispy. Instead, it was surprisingly chewy. The middle of the “fish” body felt doughy too—almost undercooked. Not quite what I expected.
The custard cream itself was thick, gooey and only subtly sweet.
Online reviews sing praises, so maybe we got a dud batch or the staff didn’t nail it that day.
Final Verdict on Taiyaki Kanda Daruma
Honestly? Underwhelming. It felt too “healthy” and lacked that sweet, indulgent hit. Thank goodness we only ordered one to share—I couldn’t have finished a whole one solo. Not worth the calories on this visit, though I’d give it another go at another store to see if the hype truly holds up.
